Before Colonel Arthur became Governor, Van Diemen's Land was often a
prey to bush-rangers, and since his arrival we have heard of their depredations.
But experience enabled that Governor to place the police of that Colony on
such a footing, as completely to put down this class of marauders. One of the
measures adopted by Colonel Arthur was, to make it imperative on all
ticket-of-leave men, on the call of any Police Magistrate, to act as
constables; so that in case of any robbery of unusual violence and terror
being perpetrated, this class of prisoners were enrolled and were under
orders to go in pursuit, or to protect as watchmen, the houses of those who
were attacked.

For as many days as these men were employed, they received
remuneration out of the police fund: some two-shillings a day we suppose, or
thereabouts. The expense of this remuneration annually was very moderate.

We think a similar policy might be adopted in New South Wales.
Bush-ranging in this Colony is encouraged by small settlers and
ticket-of-leave-men, harbouring the banditti. It is
almost vain for our mounted police to gallop through our forests, for the
gangs who at present infest the road from Liverpool to Bungonia,
are all safely housed a few hours after they have plundered a house or a dray.

Riding through the bush, therefore is a vain display of police
activity, and the expense of mounted police men is no longer repaid to the
Colony by their efficiency. General Darling was the first Governor who
directed ticket-men to be confined to the districts where they resided at the
time they applied for their tickets.

This, at the time, was felt by the Settlers, to be an advantage, as
these men, in Darling's time, did not think of squatting (settling) on Crown
Lands, and making a living by stealing cattle, and selling it without a
license, and receiving stolen property. The Colony was then very little
populated beyond the Cowpastures and Maitland, and
ticket-men could only gain a livelihood by fencing paddocks and other honest
labours.

The ticket-men, however, even at the present time, form but a small
portion of the squatters. Freed men of the labouringclass, have learned the art of stealing cattle
without detection, and they are much more active, bold, and determined in
this sort of craft, than the ticket-men. Nevertheless, the latter make
cautious but efficient coadjutors.

Another advantage resulting from General Darling's policy, of
confining ticket men to the country, was, it purged
Sydney of a-class-of men who were not under the control of assignees, nor
wanted as servants, or labourers, because prisoners
were assigned in great numbers to householders in Sydney. And as the Settlers
then felt no inconvenience, but rather the contrary from the presence of
these ticket-men, the plan met with general approbation.

But New South Wales changes its aspect every two or three years, so
what is good law to-day, may be a bad one two or three years hence. And this
remark we think holds at the present time as to the ticket men-being-allowed
to live in the country.

We think their sly-grog selling and receiving propensities,
would now do less harm in Sydney, where the police is, or at least can be
made more efficient, than in the country. An Act of Parliament was passed six
years ago, to prevent ticket-men from accumulating property. This Act the
Government of New South Wales pays little attention to. No one can prosecuted for a breach of it, and the present colonial
Government would frown on any one who attempted to put it in execution.

We would here ask; if one Act of Parliament can be set aside,
virtually, by the Sydney Executive, why should not any other? And if it have
power to do this, we would then ask, what security the Colonists have to be
governed by the laws of England? If an Act of Parliament be passed which
inflicts injustice on any class, and be evidently the result of gross
ignorance, it would be better to deter it by an Act of our Council.

The Act in question is certainly unjust, if it be interpreted to have
a retrospective effect; if it were made to apply to ticket-men who had
received their tickets previously to the passing of the Act and had during
the interim accumulated property. To render such men liable to be despoiled
of their property, and to prevent them from recovering their just credits
contracted up to the promulgation of the Act by applying the Act so their
case, would have been an act of clear oppression.

But the Act interpreted prospectively, was a very wholesome law. The
intention of a ticket-of-leave, and its only useful end, so far as the public
is concerned (and we think we might add in nine cases out of ten, so far as
the real and permanent welfare of ticket-men, is concerned) is, the giving
him the privilege to choose a master, whose sort of employ and rate of wages,
and whose temper and habits are such, as make the chain of servitude to the
preserver pleasanter; and by a certain qualified feeling of independence,
suited to his peculiar circumstances, to fit and prepare him for
unconditional freedom.

But the Act was virtually set aside by General Darling. When it was
passed, the late Governor was in the zenith of his unpopularity; and he did
not like to put the Act in force retrospectively as well as prospectively. In
this he acted right. But why he did not put in force against all prisoners
who thereafter should receive tickets-of-leave we cannot account for? Thus
the Act became a dead letter. And it should seem from this, as above stated,
the Governors of these colonies take the liberty of setting aside any Act of
Parliament when it does not suit their views.

Thus the late Governor set aside the Act which commanded him to lay
the estimates annually before the Council. Into this gross breach of his
duty, we trust the Committee lately ordered by the House of Commons, will a
make rigid inquisition. To resume our observations on bush ranging: 'The
mounted police is inefficient as at present
conducted, from two onuses: first, there are not commissioned officers as
commanders. Secondly, they have ceased to use the native blacks to track
banditti, after outrages like those committed on, Capt. Dumaresq and the Rev.
Mr. Vincent.

After the attack on the latter, neither a magistrate nor a constable
came near him. They entirely kept away. Two mounted police called the next
day, but with neither corporal nor serjeant; and
they had no blacks with them; consequently, their route was without the least
rule or guide. One quarter of the compass was as good to gallop towards as
another. The men feel this, and therefore after a given number of miles per
day, performed without energy, they listlessly return to their quarters.

The men feel as they ride through our forests, that the game is not in
the forest, but sheltered in houses of brick or timber. What can be expected
from such a system? It is a complete farce. Though a bad magistrate, the
settlers of Argyle and Bathurst were always loud in their praises of Mr. M'Alister as a commander of Police. But the secret of
that officer's success, next to his own indefatigable exertions and courage
was his employment of native blacks on the instant of any outrage. And he
dispensed with their services only, when he had unearthed his game, and found
their services an incumbrance to his speed.

But there are not commanders now. Soldiers will not exert themselves
more than sailors,unless
they are under the eye of their officers, and share with the latter the
perils of a chase after our banditti. Ridicule is heaped on Capt. Williams
for walking the streets of Sydney bedaubed with gold lace, while the houses
of our country settlers and clergy, the drays of
our farmers and graziers are being plundered
weekly, and their wives and children exposed to the danger of violation. Gold
lace is one of the soldier's honours; and as to
residing in Sydney, perhaps it is good policy for the Commander-in-chief of
the mounted police to reside in our little metropolis, first, that he may
receive by the post the earliest intelligence of robberies from all parts of
the Colony; and secondly, that he may be in instant communication with our
Home Secretary, to wit, Mr. M'Leay or the Governor.

But assuredly, there ought to be at all the mounted police stations,
not only a sergeant, but a commissioned officer. The salary of the latter
need not be more than a hundred a year. It is a good addition to his pay. And
lastly, at all the stations, there should be three or four active intelligent
blacks stationed, fed and clothed at the expense of Government; a mere
bagatelle as to the cost attending the employment of these useful
auxiliaries. Such blacks too, would handle a light rifle with effect.